Identifying immunostimulatory herbal supplements that may flare autoimmune skin diseases: a systematic scoping review
Authors' conclusion
We identified 227 herbal supplements with immunostimulatory properties, of which 15 were most strongly supported by the evidence.
Study context
- Population
- Studies (English, published before 3 August 2025, PubMed) describing immunostimulatory effects of herbal supplements in vitro, in model organisms or in human/clinical studies
- Participants
- 469 studies
- Outcome
- Immunostimulatory herbal supplements identified
Methodological detailsPRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, qualitative synthesis, Data extracted by four reviewers
- PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews
- Qualitative synthesis
- Data extracted by four reviewers
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Distinct immunostimulatory herbal supplements
- 227
- Supported by human studies
- 79
- Supported by model organism studies
- 145
- Supported by in vitro studies
- 148
- Herbs with most robust evidence across all three evidence types (>5 single-ingredient studies or >25 references): alfalfa, ashwagandha, astragalus, chlorella, echinacea, garlic, ginseng, green tea extract, Indian mulberry, liquorice, mistletoe, reishi mushroom, skullcap, spirulina, tinospora
- 15
Further findings
Shared proinflammatory mechanisms of the 15 strongest-evidence herbs
- Widely marketed for 'immune support'; toll-like receptor activation, NF-κB/MAPK signalling, increased IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ
Original publication
Identifying immunostimulatory herbal supplements that may flare autoimmune skin diseases: a systematic scoping review. Lupus Sci Med. Published 31 December 2025. doi:10.
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